COLD DARK ROOM

JoesMum

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I had a nice nest of Black Phoebe under the eaves of my house. It was very interesting to watch them work at building a nest. Then they laid eggs and the next thing I knew, they were gone and the nest was destroyed. Some other species of bird, probably a mocking bird, had raided the nest.

Is it possible another bird raided your nest, and Papa was killed in the process?
The box is secure from predators. Woodpeckers are the main nestbox raiders here, but we fitted a metal plate on the front to prevent that.

The most likely is that he was picked off by a sparrowhawk. Sparrowhawks are small birds of prey that specialise in picking off smaller birds not paying attention ( often around bird feeders.)

We had feathers on the lawn this morning... Classic leftovers from a sparrowhawk plucking its lunch. Looking at the feathers, the one on our lawn was likely a woodpigeon nestling taken from the nest. Many of the feathers were still "in pin"... not fully developed. It shows there's a sparrowhawk about, just not what's happened to Mr Bluet-it
 

JoesMum

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Good evening all. It's been a long day of laundry. I think the leprechaun has been dr agging clothes out and putting them in the wash basket while we were away! Fortunately, we have had good weather today so I was able to dry everything on the line (except the underwear - that got lobbed in the tumble dryer as life is too short to peg out loads of socks :D )

I have also been back to the PTSD therapist. It wasn't nearly so exhausting this time. Things are progressing well, I think.

And tomorrow I am back with my physio/osteopath. The lower back still has a niggly bit and my shoulder is no better. I suspect I shall be heading to an orthopedic specialist about the shoulder

I 'm still pretty tired after the late arrival home last night so won't be up much longer. Enjoy the rest of your day and not see you all tomorrow
 

Lyn W

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Oh that is awesome that they responded to you. And that is funny about the tort ornament. Maybe you should show him the ornament more often, it might make him perk up as he won't be able to let the competition win.
Yes I did wonder about putting it near a plate of food to see if the competition kick in.
 

Lyn W

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The box is secure from predators. Woodpeckers are the main nestbox raiders here, but we fitted a metal plate on the front to prevent that.

The most likely is that he was picked off by a sparrowhawk. Sparrowhawks are small birds of prey that specialise in picking off smaller birds not paying attention ( often around bird feeders.)

We had feathers on the lawn this morning... Classic leftovers from a sparrowhawk plucking its lunch. Looking at the feathers, the one on our lawn was likely a woodpigeon nestling taken from the nest. Many of the feathers were still "in pin"... not fully developed. It shows there's a sparrowhawk about, just not what's happened to Mr Bluet-it
Very sad.
Is it possible she may find another mate and have another clutch later in the summer? Or do they mate for life?
 

JoesMum

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Very sad.
Is it possible she may find another mate and have another clutch later in the summer? Or do they mate for life?
She'll probably find another mate, but won't lay again this year. They only have one clutch a year and rearing those chicks takes a lot out of them. She's coping alone. She'll do what she can to get this one off the nest and them concentrate on restoring herself to get through the winter
 

Lyn W

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Good evening all. It's been a long day of laundry. I think the leprechaun has been dr agging clothes out and putting them in the wash basket while we were away! Fortunately, we have had good weather today so I was able to dry everything on the line (except the underwear - that got lobbed in the tumble dryer as life is too short to peg out loads of socks :D )

I have also been back to the PTSD therapist. It wasn't nearly so exhausting this time. Things are progressing well, I think.

And tomorrow I am back with my physio/osteopath. The lower back still has a niggly bit and my shoulder is no better. I suspect I shall be heading to an orthopedic specialist about the shoulder

I 'm still pretty tired after the late arrival home last night so won't be up much longer. Enjoy the rest of your day and not see you all tomorrow
Good night Linda,
Glad you've managed to catch up on the washing :)- it's the ironing is the hard bit:(
Good luck with the psychopath tomorrow!
 

Lyn W

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She'll probably find another mate, but won't lay again this year. They only have one clutch a year and rearing those chicks takes a lot out of them. She's coping alone. She'll do what she can to get this one off the nest and them concentrate on restoring herself to get through the winter
It's such hard work for them - let's hope everything goes well for mum and chick.
 

DE42

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Thanks everyone. I made it down here safe and sound everything's good. :)
It has been raining and come one pretty heavy downpour but it didn't last long. So hopefully it won't be too bad.

I did make it down to the beach and I was alone LOL.20180521_185957.jpeg20180521_190001.jpeg20180521_190005.jpeg
 

Bambam1989

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